AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U and the Intel Core i9-14901E occupy very different positions in the database. The recorded head-to-head benchmarks show a total of 17 tests, and the Intel Core i9-14901E wins all 17. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U records zero wins. This is a decisive, one-sided comparison where the Intel part holds a commanding lead across every measured workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-14901E dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part scores 25,753 against the AMD part’s 15,456, a delta of -40%. The single-core result follows the same pattern: 3,635 for Intel versus 2,182 for AMD, also a -40% delta. The older Cinebench R20 and R15 tests show identical margins. In R20 multi-core, Intel scores 10,816 versus AMD’s 6,491 (-40%), and in R15 multi-core, Intel scores 2,595 versus AMD’s 1,557 (-40%). Single-core R20 shows 1,526 versus 916 (-40%), and R15 single-core shows 366 versus 219 (-40.2%). Every Cinebench test reports the same approximate 40% deficit for the AMD chip, indicating that the performance gap is consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals a wider spread of margins. The largest gap appears in the physics test, where Intel scores 3,041 and AMD scores 983, a delta of -67.7%. The find prime numbers test also shows a large difference: Intel scores 189 versus AMD’s 66, a -65.1% delta. Floating point math shows Intel at 81,089 versus AMD’s 34,865, a -57% delta. Integer math follows with Intel at 112,736 versus AMD’s 56,738, a -49.7% delta. The data encryption test shows Intel at 18,571 versus AMD’s 12,319, a -33.7% delta. Data compression shows Intel at 288,777 versus AMD’s 205,703, a -28.8% delta. Random string sorting shows Intel at 39,138 versus AMD’s 24,797, a -36.6% delta. The multithread score shows Intel at 30,298 versus AMD’s 18,218, a -39.9% delta. Extended instructions show the closest margin: Intel at 17,249 versus AMD’s 15,410, a -10.7% delta. The single-thread scores show Intel at 4,354 versus AMD’s 3,563, a -18.2% delta.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces the overall picture. The Intel Core i9-14901E averages 37,911, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U averages 23,709. This places the Intel part in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 76th percentile. The nearest rivals in the database for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with an average score of 37,904 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X with 37,943 (-0.1% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11500 at 23,718 (0% delta) and the Intel Xeon 6333P at 23,823 (-0.5% delta), showing that the AMD part competes with older mainstream desktop chips rather than the top-tier Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head data, there are no benchmark categories where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins. The Intel Core i9-14901E takes every test in the database. However, the magnitude of the wins varies by workload type, which indicates where the Intel part is particularly strong. The largest deltas appear in physics (-67.7%), prime number finding (-65.1%), and floating point math (-57%). These workloads rely heavily on raw compute throughput, and the Intel part’s higher core count and higher boost clock appear to drive those results.

The smallest margin is in extended instructions, where Intel leads by only -10.7%. This suggests that the AMD part’s Zen 4 architecture handles certain instruction extensions more efficiently relative to its other scores. The single-thread margin is also relatively moderate at -18.2%, indicating that the AMD part’s 4.90 GHz boost clock helps narrow the gap in lightly threaded tasks compared to the 5.60 GHz boost of the Intel part. Multi-threaded PassMark tests show a consistent -39.9% delta, which aligns with the Cinebench multi-core results.

For the AMD part, its wins are zero in the direct comparison, but its placement in the percentile data shows it is not a weak processor in absolute terms. It sits in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 23,709. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-11500, scores 23,718, which is essentially identical. This means the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U delivers performance comparable to a mainstream desktop chip from a previous generation, while the Intel Core i9-14901E performs near the top of the database with an 86th percentile ranking.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core i9-14901E uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel part’s higher boost clock and two additional cores contribute to its lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part likely helps in workloads with repeated data access, such as data compression and random string sorting, where the Intel part leads by -28.8% and -36.6% respectively.

Memory support also differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also with a dual-channel bus, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. Both parts support ECC memory. The PCIe capabilities differ: the AMD part offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Intel part a more modern I/O interface for expansion.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD part uses the Radeon 740M, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 770. No benchmark scores are recorded for integrated graphics in the database, so the comparison is limited to their presence. The market segments also differ: the AMD part is designed for mobile (AMD Socket FP7), while the Intel part is designed for desktop (Intel Socket 1700). The TDP reflects this: the AMD part is rated at 28 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 65 watts. The transistor and die size figures show the AMD part at 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Intel part has no transistor count recorded but a 257 mm² die.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U boosts to 4.90 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is rated at 28 watts, and the Intel Core i9-14901E is rated at 65 watts.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the single-thread score difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E scores 3,635, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U scores 2,182, a delta of -40%.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The database shows a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i9-14901E wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with deltas ranging from -10.7% in extended instructions to -67.7% in physics. The average benchmark score of 37,911 versus 23,709 places the Intel part 60% higher in aggregate performance. The Intel part also ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part ranks in the 76th percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is not without merit. Its 28 watt TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for low-power systems, and its performance is comparable to the Intel Core i5-11500, which scores 23,718. However, in a direct comparison, the Intel Core i9-14901E provides superior single-threaded performance, superior multi-threaded performance, and a larger cache. The Intel part’s higher core count and boost clock, along with its PCIe Gen 5 support, make it the stronger choice for workloads that demand maximum throughput. The AMD part’s only recorded advantages are its smaller die size (137 mm² versus 257 mm²) and lower TDP, which are relevant for mobile or thermally constrained environments, but not for raw performance. Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core i9-14901E is the higher-performing processor in every measured category.